This message is Part 7 of the series “The Miracle Of Mercy” by Pastor Chuck Bernal. In this message Pastor Chuck talks about our calling to help other people. The message is titled, "Our Ministry Of Mercy". Using three "Compassion" case studies, a leper being healed by Jesus, a paralyzed man finding hope and healing and a group of sinners meeting Jesus, Pastor Chuck talks about how we can help the least, the last and the lost find God's mercy in their lives. This message was delivered at LifePointe Church on Sunday, October 30, 2016

1. YOUR MINISTRY OF MERCY
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Pastor Chuck Bernal
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
(Matthew 5:7 - NIV)
Mercy is _______________________________________________
Compassion-ate: ________________________________________
Compassion is about making a decision. It’s not an emotion . . . Expressing
compassion is a deliberate choice [to embrace pain that is not your own] . . .
We are most like Christ when we choose to offer the gift of our presence and
choose to absorb within ourselves the suffering of the least, the last, and the
lost. Are you lookingfor Jesus? That’swhere you’llfindhim.
(Kay Warren)
Compassion-ate Case Study 1: Showing Mercy to the LEAST
A man with leprosy came to Jesus and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing,
you can make me clean.’ “Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and
touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him
and he was cured. “Jesus sent him away at oncewith a strong warning: ‘See that you
don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices
that Moses commanded for your cleansing, asa testimony to them.’ Instead he went
out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer
enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to
himfromeverywhere. (Mark1:40-45-NIV)
HE WAS NOT WELCOME BECAUSE OF HIS DISEASE
If you ever have leprosy, you must tear your clothes, leave your hair uncombed, cover
the lower part of your face, and go around shouting, “I’m unclean! I’m unclean!”As
long as you have the disease, you are unclean and must live alone outside the camp.
(Leviticus 13:45-46 –CEV)
______________________________ ______________________________
Compassion-ate Case Study 2: Showing Mercy to the LAST
One day Jesus was teaching in a house, and the healing power of the Lord was with
Him. Pharisees and religious scholars were sitting and listening, having come from
villages all across the regions of Galileeand Judea and from the holy city of Jerusalem.
Some men came to the house, carrying a paralyzed man on his bed pallet. They
wanted to bring him in and present him to Jesus, but the house was so packed with
people that they couldn’t get in. So they climbed up on the roof and pulled off some
roof tiles. Then they lowered the man by ropes so he came to rest right in front of
Jesus. Inthis way,theirfaithwasvisibletoJesus. (Luke 5:17-20 –Voice)

2. HE WAS NOT WORTHY BECAUSE OF HIS DISABILITY
Compassion-ate Case Study 3: Showing Mercy to the LOST
After this he went out and saw a man named Levi at his work collecting taxes. Jesus
said, “Come along with me.” And he did—walked away from everything and went
with him. Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax
menand other disreputable characters as guestsat the dinner. The Phariseesand their
religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. “What is he doing eating and
drinking with crooks and ‘sinners’?” Jesus heard about it and spoke up, “Who needs a
doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation
to a changed life,changed insideandout.”(Luke5:27-32 – Msg)
THEY WERE ALL WRITTEN-OFF BECAUSE OF THEIR DECISIONS
OUR MERCY MANDATE – TO LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR PAIN
STEP 1: Know that I am called to be a “__________________________”
Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy. (Luke 6:36 – NCV)
STEP 2: Look around and truly _____the hurtingpeople in yourworld
I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look
at what’s right in front of you . . . (John 4:35 – Msg)
STEP 3: Ask what am I willing to ______________toreally help people
If you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good
morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off
without providing so much asa coat ora cup of soup—wheredoes that get you? Isn’t it
obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? (James 2:15-17 –
Msg)
STEP 4: Mercy must start with _________and must start right _______
Each of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, for
there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end. (John 9:4 –
LB)
MERCY IS THE KEY TO ANSWERED PRAYER IN OUR LIVES
(Isaiah 58:5-12)